Agreed. I do wonder though how a representative side from the only nation which has RL as its national sport can display such woeful basic skills of the game, even allowing for the fact some of the better players were not available some of the PNG lads were shocking.

tbh if you are not playing at that pace and intensity every week, which 99% of that squad aren't, then you can;t expect them to step up in one off situations. Its no different to watching the difference in pace and composure of teh england team whn they played NZ and Oz. That's why I believe it has very little to do with the number of English players in SL and everything to do with the coaching structures from jnrs up and the overall quality of each team. Again if was just down to numbers the world rankings would be: PNG, Oz, Eng, NZ

they stick with crap london sides and a welsh side that gets about 200 people at games.

and continues with 2 poor sides full of overseas players in Hull as well.

go figure!!

Short memories these Hull KR fans.



One problem would be that come World Cup year that Pacific Islands team would be split in two or three. The four or five Tonga players who had taken part would be joined by players who weren't considered 'good enough' and so hadn't been given the experience of playing against the world's best.
I'd rather see Samoa play as Samoa and Tonga as Tonga.

Well, if we look at the Tonga national side, we see there is already Samoa there



1 Etu Uaisele - FB

2 Fatelea Okati - WG

3 Sione Lousi - CE

4 Sione Tongia - CE

18 James Tutuila - CE

6 Feleti Mateo (c) - FE

7 Eddie Paea - HB

8 Mickey Paea - PR

9 Tevita Leo-Latu - HK

10 Epalahame Lauaki - PR

11 Ukuma Ta'ai - SR

12 Richard Fa'aoso - SR

13 Andrew Fifita - LF
14 Alai Taufa'ao - HK

15 Sam Moa - PR

16 Ronnie Alovilli - PR

17 Siosaia Vave - SR

19 Fokolulu Taumalolo - LF

20 Saia Taufalele - FE

It is a two horse race no matter what so going back to tri-nations isnt gonna change anything!

It's up to the RFL to look into and implement ways to get us into that horse race. The French mid season test has to go and the only solution I can see is an England vs Super League XIII or England vs England A.

England v the other nationalities is going to happen...mark my words

That one game is still not gonna be enough. What the RFL need to do is come with a comprehensive system that will create better coaches who will then create better rugby league players. Yes England needs more intensity before playing Aus or NZ but that isnt enough. Need better skill sets!

That's better! Looking forward positively with ideas rather than wallowing in depressive self pity and head shaking doomsday handwringing.
That match will give our players the chance to play against a much better standard of player than the French side currently is able to offer.

Full tours as GB every 4 years like we used to....start in PNG....3 test v the aussies and finish off with 2 or 3 against the kiwis...make 1 match for world cup points....never any harm in it before.

Although I'm convinced GB has gone and won't be coming back any time soon, I'd like to see something like

Year 1 - 5 Nations down under
Year 2 - 5 Nations Europe
Year 3 - World Cup
Year 4 - GB tour down under
Year 5 - 5 Nations Europe
Year 6 - 5 Nations down under
Year 7 - World Cup
Year 8 - GB tour down under
Year 9 - 5 Nations Europe

How about a world series?

Sadly the newspaper is now defunct!

This comp will never get going with the 4th team there just making up the numbers PNG/Wales/France in the 4 times this comp has been played there have only been two winners Australia could play a side from western australia and still beat us.

Best laugh i have had in ages.

You're right. The other teams should just give up and let Australia and the Kiwis play each other two or three times every year. What's the point of trying to improve and aiming to one day give the pair of them a spanking?

Thank god my students don't have the same attitude.

[iNewsflash: The 4 Nations got going a while back.[/i

have a look at the 1992 test side (we was semi-pro back than)that team would beat the side we had out this year, untill Australia and NZ dont make a final than us fans can say we have improved.

So either:
1. no change
2. sod developing the second tier
3. scrap wales/france and change of labels for PNG?
...
Actually, I think that a second tier would maybe not be a bad idea, but I'd rather PNG/Wales/France/Fiji play an undercard to the 4-nations with a pacific or euro club stepping up and one of the "undercarders" being the 4th in the 4 nations. Two competitions, a cup and a shield played as double headers.

so that would be 2009

and the Aussies won by how many and didn't even break into a sweat?

What i mean in my post is the untill BOTH Australia and NZ dont make i final, like england play wales in 2011 final

Australia beat =#BF0000ENGLAND in last year's final. Hooray! We have improved





France need to do their time in the European Cup until they sort themselves out. Same rules for everyone

The international set up now of 4 Nations , euro cup , pacific cup is the one thing that the RFL have got right [ yes I know it is the RLIF , but in reality it is mr Lewis and Mr Wood who have brought this about it must be continued with , you know , like franchising and the London club , long term projects